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We the Geeks

“We the Geeks" is a series of Google+ Hangouts to highlight the future of science, technology, and innovation in America through conversations with Administration officials and private-sector contributors. Join the conversation using #WeTheGeeks and sign up for updates about future hangouts.

Past Hangouts:

In the farthest reaches of our solar system, nearly 3 billion miles away, lies the small, icy body that has inspired wonder for generations of astronomers since its discovery 85 years ago. Pluto, a dwarf planet, is so far away that it takes nearly 250 years to orbit the Sun. This summer, we will come to know Pluto in infinitely more detail than ever before.

NASA’s New Horizons mission launched into space in 2006 and has been en route to Pluto for nine years. In July 2015, it will reach its destination, billions of miles away, for the first-ever close view of the dwarf planet and its moons. New Horizons will use an array of instruments to take pictures and answer basic questions about the temperature and composition of Pluto’s atmosphere, its surface and geology, and how it interacts with the constant stream of charged particles emanating from the Sun.

On April 9, the White House hosted “We the Geeks: Journey to Pluto,” featuring experts from NASA’s New Horizons team to learn about the mission and the exciting discoveries scientists hope to make about Pluto.

February is Black History Month – and there’s no better time to celebrate and share the stories of all-star African Americans in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM).

On Wednesday, February 25 at 2:00pm ET, the White House brought back “We the Geeks” with a new episode on the Stories of African Americans in STEM. We heard from extraordinary (and extraordinarily geeky) students, scientists, engineers, and inventors, about how they got inspired to pursue STEM and how they are paying it forward to help engage America’s full and diverse STEM talent pool.

On Wednesday, September 17th at 3:00 p.m. ETWe the Geeks highlighted women and girls in STEM fields with the Miss America Organization. Hear from the Miss America STEM scholarship winners as they share their stories from crowns to classrooms, personal role models, and advice for the next generation of women in STEM.

In order for the United States to continue to lead the world in innovation and reap the health, security, and economic benefits offered by cutting-edge discoveries in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), we must engage the nation’s full talent pool in these growing fields, including America’s girls and women.

Watch We the Geeks: Women Role Models, to hear from women and girl STEM leaders as they share their stories and advice to inspire the next generation of young women to discover their inner geeks and become the inventors and leaders of tomorrow.

African Americans are making amazing contributions in the fields of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). But we need to make sure that African American students today also see themselves as tomorrow’s discoverers, explorers, developers, and STEM innovators.

On Tuesday, February 25th, we hosted “We the Geeks: Celebrating Black History Month” with some of our foremost African American STEM innovators and education advocates.

Watch We the Geeks: "Polar Vortex" and Extreme Weather, a conversation with leading meteorologists, climate scientists, and weather experts about why temperatures dipped to such frigid lows this week, how weather experts turn raw data into useful forecasts, and what we know about extreme weather events in the context of a changing climate.

The day before Thanksgiving, Bill Yosses — then White House Executive Pastry Chef — and a lineup of top food experts “talked turkey” and doveinto our dinner plates to explore the science of cooking. They drilled down into the science behind behind brining and marinating, how different kinds of bread can be made and how various levels of heat affect the chemical composition of ingredients. And we explored the ways astronauts make food and spend Thanksgiving in space.

The conversation was moderated by Doug Rand, Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, and five teenage finalists of the 2013 National Youth Entrepreneurship Challenge. The panel of pioneering entrepreneurs, included:

Announcing the first ever White House Science Fair, the President called for an all hands on deck approach to grow a generation of Americans who are, “the makers of things, and not just the consumers of things.” And at the 2012 White House Science Fair, the President met student Joey Hudy and launched his marshmallow cannon, noting that Joey’s motto was, “Don’t be bored, make something.”Responding to that call, citizens, communities, and organizations are coming together to give students the tools to design with their minds and make with their hands.

The Hangout was moderated by Kumar Garg, Assistant Director for Learning and Innovation, and JJ Raynor, Policy Advisor at the National Economic Council, and will feature a panel of these leading experts:

This “We the (Immigrant) Geeks” Google+ Hangout was on “Making the U.S. a Geek Magnet” – featuring extraordinary immigrant pioneers with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), who have made amazing discoveries, developed new inventions, founded high-growth companies, and conducted remarkable research. It was moderated by Todd Park, U.S. Chief Technology Officer and Doug Rand, Assistant Director for Entrepreneurship at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy. Participants included:

In celebration of YouTube's "Geek Week," the White House hosted a conversation about the state of American robotics and the possibilities for robots to improve life on Earth. Ask your questions now with #WeTheGeeks, and watch the Hangout live right here.

The Hangout was moderated by Vijay Kumar, Assistant Director for Robotics and Cyberphysical Systems, and Tom Kalil, Deputy Director for Technology and Innovation. John Green, best selling author and popular video blogger, joined the discussion and curate questions for a panel of these leading experts:

As thousands of sci-fi and superhero enthusiasts gather in San Diego for Comic-Con, here at the White House we gathered some of the Nation’s top innovators who are designing materials to enable real-life superpowers—including invisibility and super-strength.

Geeks have had a lasting positive impact on the lives of millions of people in the developing world—from the innovations and insights that fueled the Green Revolution, to the historic scientific achievements that have marked the “Beginning of the End of AIDS.” Geeks continue to play a central role in building technologies, making discoveries, building businesses, and engineering solutions that benefit people and communities around the world.

In the same way that “merit badges” have been used by the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts and medals have been used by the military to demonstrate achievement, a growing number of foundations, government agencies, companies and non-profits are exploring “digital badges” as the 21st century equivalent of a resume-builder that students and workers can use to showcase their skills, encourage their peers, and find meaningful educational and employment opportunities.

This conversation about the potential of digital badges to help students and adults featured:

We gathered some leaders in space exploration together for a pregame show as asteroid 1998 QE2 safely flew by the Earth and Moon (we won’t have another close visit from this particular space rock for about 200 years). These experts included:

Grand Challenges are ambitious goals on a national or global scale that capture the imagination and demand advances in innovation and breakthroughs in science and technology. Watch our conversation with: